Added another bunny

[KahluaBowser]

Back story: I’m an Exotics vet tech and my practice was surrendered a cute little male 1 year old Netherlands dwarf because he needed a leg amputation and neutered. My work decided to name him Fetty Hop. My husband and I adopted him and I brought him home yesterday.

I already have a bonded pair both around 5 years old kahlua(Havana, spayed) and bowser( English spot/dwarf) neutered, which I adopted in September). Bowser has always been aggressive towards myself and my husband but loves Kahlua. However, I am bowsers 4th owner so I completely understand why he grunts and lunges. He does let us pet him and kiss his head but then hops away him when he is done. Kahlua has been around other males from past fosters but not bowser..

I have Fetty separated from them but in the same room so I can watch him. They cannot see the new bunny though. Yesterday Kahlua(female) was going after bowser(male) but not pulling fur. Then they would be fine. I think when I picked of Fetty Hop to give him his medications one of his fecal pellets that was stuck to him.. fell off bowser smelled it and that’s when they started going after each other. Fur was pulled and they were running around the room going after each other. I separated them and bowser is already impossible to handle, is now lunging at Kahlua and now Kahlua is afraid to go near bowser. Kahlua is also having those “smells” from her hind end which I know can happen when another male is present. After 30 minutes I let them out together and they were near each other but you could see they were mad at each other.

I’m so upset because I was trying to help out the new little guy but I’m afraid my bonded pair will not be able to be bonded again.

I know to bond, switching toys, bowls, litter to get them used to smell helps.

I hope this all makes sense I’m just so upset

 

[JBun]

You did a wonderful thing taking him in. Unfortunately, adding a new rabbit always poses a possible risk of upsetting any current bonded rabbits. So a few options I can think of are keeping the new bun at the other end of the house and wash between handling. Even changing clothes if he came in contact with them.

Other option is consider moving up bonding(if this is what you eventually intended to do), so that the rabbits are introduced now instead of wondering who this new rabbit is that has invaded their territory.

 

[KahluaBowser]

You did a wonderful thing taking him in. Unfortunately, adding a new rabbit always poses a possible risk of upsetting any current bonded rabbits. So a few options I can think of are keeping the new bun at the other end of the house and wash between handling. Even changing clothes if he came in contact with them.

Other option is consider moving up bonding(if this is what you eventually intended to do), so that the rabbits are introduced now instead of wondering who this new rabbit is that has invaded their territory.

Thank you for responding. An update: Kahlua and bowser are now getting along. However, Kahlua is getting all aggressive towards this new rabbit. She has been with at least 3 their male fosters and never acted this way. bowser only gets worked up because Kahlua is. And the new bunny (Bucky) can care less. I am slowly switching toys, litter pans. Putting his urine/poos in both of their litter boxes. Does the bath tub trick work if I ever need to go to that?

 

[Heather]

The bathtub trick worked great for me many years ago for a pair I used to have. I've never tried it but even stressing them out together on top of a running washing machine seems to work. What I have found works best of all for me, and seems to be the least stressful, is to have their bunny palaces within sight of each other at all times... and then during their playtime out in the living room they can check each other out if they want to or they can ignore each other (each at a time not all out together). Both of my bunny palaces are in the living room so it's easy I don't have to move anyone around or anything. I'm not saying it's wrong, but I never liked the idea of putting their waste into others' litterboxes because I don't want them to feel their territory is being invaded. I like the idea of switching the rest though.

My most recent pair bonded without ever having to take a step beyond being constantly within view of each other, they are now always seeking each other out and are even at the point of being out together for playtime. We're waiting for the female to be old enough to be spade before they can live together permanently but they're definitely bonded, grooming each other and snuggling after only a couple weeks!

Each bunny is different as you know , good luck and it's wonderful what you did